Narcissus plant named &#39;inbal&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Narcissus  plant named ‘Inbal’ particularly characterized by 10 to 15 flowers per stem; white flower; flower diameter 54-57 mm; length of outer perianth segment: 24-27 mm; width of outer perianth segment 21-23; and having mild fragrance.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE CLAIMED PLANT

Narcissus tazetta

VARIETY DENOMINATION

INBAL

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of anarcissus plant, botanically known as Narcissus tazetta L., ‘Paperwhite’group, commonly known as daffodil and hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name ‘Inbal’.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made in a controlled breedingprogram in Bet Dagan, Israel. The female parent is a Narcissus varietyfrom a proprietary breeding line designated ‘1959/4’ (unpatented). Themale parent is a Narcissus variety from a proprietary breeding linedesignated ‘66/18/7’ (unpatented).

‘Inbal’ was discovered and selected by the inventors Dorit Sandler-Ziv,Herut Yahel, Avner Cohen and Har'el Yon, as a flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Bet Dagan,Israel.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by either separation ofbulblets, bulb chips (twin scaling), or bulb crossing (scoring) wasfirst performed in 1995 in Bet Dagan, Israel and has demonstrated thatthe combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the newcultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations ofasexual propagation. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘Inbal’ which in combination distinguishthis Narcissus as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. 10 to 15 flowers per stem;

2. white flower;

3. flower diameter 35-40 mm;

4. length of outer perianth segment: 17-19 mm;

5. width of outer perianth segment: 18-22 mm, and

6. mild fragrance.

‘Inbal’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary significantlywith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, andday-length without any change in the genotype of the plant. Thefollowing observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown Bet Dagan, Israel under conditions which closelyapproximate those generally used in commercial practice.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, themost similar in comparison to ‘Inbal’ is cultivar ‘Ziva’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 3,366). The following table is a comparison between the newvariety ‘Inbal’ and ‘Ziva’, as grown under the same conditions: TABLE 1Characteristic ‘Inbal’ ‘Ziva’ Plant height About 35 cm About 60 cmDiameter of flower 35-40 mm About 45 mm Fragrance Mild Strong Anthers ofouter whorl: Position as Beneath Above compared to the mouth of theperianth tube Anthers of inner whorl: Beneath Same level Position ascompared to the mouth of the perianth tube

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Narcissus showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. The first photographshows an ‘Inbal’ plant in its entirety as a potted plant with severalinflorescences, 2 months after planting of the bulb. The secondphotograph shows a close-up of an ‘Inbal’ inflorescence, 2 months afterplanting of the bulb.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Natural growing conditions of the new Narcissus in Israel in a typicalMediterranean climate are as follows:

-   Planting: End of September through beginning of November in medium    to heavy soil, pH 6-8. Planting material: bulb offsets, 8-12 cm in    circumference size.-   Growing: 5-6 months in winter in night temperatures of 0-10° C., and    daytime temperatures of 8-20° C.-   Flowering: 45-60 days after planting from mid-December through    mid-January.-   Bulb flowering size: >10 cm.-   Bulb filling and maturation: 2-3 months (mid-March to end of May) in    night temperatures of 8-16° C., and daytime temperatures of 16-30°    C.-   Bulb harvest: In June, after leaf yellowing.-   Bulb curing: 2-3 weeks in well-aired shed at 20-35° C.-   Bulb sorting and strorage: round bulbs >12 cm. (marketing size for    cut flower and pot-plant production).-   Shipping and storage: 25-30° C., 60% humidity, for 2-6 months, under    well-aired conditions.

Offsets <12 cm=propagation material, storage: aired shed.

-   Forcing: For cut flower and pot-plant production: Pre-treatment of    bulbs: bulbs stored in 25-30° C. should be transferred to 9-13° C.    for 3-4 weeks prior to planting.-   Planting: In well-drained, pH 6-7 sterilized planting medium.-   Growing temperatures: night: 13-17° C., day: 17-23° C.-   Flowering: 25-40 days after planting (temperature dependent).-   Propagation:    -   -   Method.—Star cutting or cross-cutting bulbs of size >16 cm            from mid-July through mid-August.        -   Storage.—aired shed, 25-30° C.        -   Planting.—in October.        -   Harvest.—June, at the end of the growing season, bulb size            6-12 are harvested for use as propagation material.

The following observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown in Bet Dagan, Israel under conditions which closelyapproximate those generally used in commercial practice. Colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart(RHS), except where general colors of ordinary significance are used.Color values were taken under daylight conditions at mid-February in BetDagan, Israel. The age of the plant described is about 50 days afterplanting in mid-December of bulbs with 10 cm circumference.

-   Parentage:    -   -   Male parent.—66/18/7 (own breeding line).        -   Female Parent.—1959/4 (own breeding line).-   Propagation: Vegetative propagation from bulbs by separation of    bulblets, bulb chips (twin scaling), or bulb crossing (scoring).-   Plant:    -   -   General appearance and form.—Height: Approximately 35 cm            Spread: About 25 cm Growth habit: Semi-erect Growth rate:            Fast Position of inflorescence in relation to foliage: Above            Flowering response: Dependent upon cold and heat treatment            of bulb Flowering season: End of winter Winter            hardiness/weather tolerance: Very good Lastingness of the            Individual bloom: About one week.        -   Rooting habit.—Many fleshy roots sprouting from the disc at            the base of the bulb.-   Scape:    -   -   Length.—About 30 cm.        -   Diameter.—6-9 mm.        -   Shape in cross section at ground level.—Elliptic.        -   Shape in cross section of upper third.—Narrow elliptic.            Ribbing: Medium pronounced.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette, exerting from bulb.        -   Overall shape.—Linear.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Length.—40-45 cm.        -   Width.—20-30 mm.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Surface.—Glabrous.        -   Color of upper surface.—Mature leaf: Green RHS 137 C            Immature leaf: Green RHS 137 C.        -   Color of lower surface.—Mature leaf: Dark green RHS 137 B            Immature leaf: Dark green RHS 137 B.        -   Venation.—Inconspicuous (both upper and lower surfaces).-   Bud:    -   -   Length.—About 10 mm.        -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Color of bract before opening.—Green.-   Umbel:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 10 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 10 cm.-   Bulb:    -   -   Shape.—Short-necked basically rounded, somewhat edged            resulting from splitting.        -   Size.—Variable with age.        -   Color of outer scale.—Dark brown.-   Flower:    -   -   Type.—Single.        -   Shape.—Actinomorphic.        -   Diameter of perianth.—35-40 mm.        -   Number of perianth segments.—Three inner and three outer            segments.        -   Attitude of perianth relative to floral axis.—Incurved.        -   Position of segments.—Overlapping.        -   Length of outer perianth segment.—17-19 mm.        -   Width of outer perianth segment.—18-22 mm.        -   Shape in cross section of perianth segment.—Incurved.        -   Shape of tip of perianth segment.—Mucronate.        -   Margin of perianth segment.—Entire.        -   Surface of perianth segment.—Smooth, midrib raised.        -   Length of perianth tube.—18-20 mm.        -   Color of upper surface of perianth.—White RHS 155 D.        -   Color of lower surface of perianth.—White RHS 155 D.        -   Fragrance.—Mild.-   Corona:    -   -   Height.—6 mm.        -   Diameter of top.—9-10 mm.        -   Color of outer side.—White RHS 155 D.        -   Color of inner side.—White RHS 155 D.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Reflexing of margin.—Absent.        -   Lobing.—Absent.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—48-56 mm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.-   Anthers:    -   -   Anthers of outer whorl.—Position as compared to the mouth of            the perianth tube: Beneath.        -   Anthers of inner _(—) whorl.—Position as compared to the            mouth of the perianth tube: Beneath.        -   Color of anther.—Yellowish.        -   Curling of anther.—Absent.        -   Color of pollen.—Yellow.-   Style:    -   -   Color.—White.-   Stigma:    -   -   Position as compared to anthers of outer whorl.—Beneath.        -   Position as compared to anthers of inner whorl.—Above.        -   Color.—White.-   Ovary:    -   -   Shape.—Triangular, ribbed.-   Fruit:    -   -   Shape.—Triangular.        -   Color.—Medium green RHS 137 C.        -   Length.—About 8-9 mm.        -   Diameter.—6-7 mm.-   Seed:    -   -   Length.—2-3 mm.        -   Shape.—ribbed.        -   Color.—Black.

1. A new and distinct Narcissus plant named ‘Inbal’, as illustrated anddescribed herein.